What's New in Building articles from May 2006

What's New in Building archives from May 2006

Europe's top pre-finished steel in Corus on the terraces.
May 16, 2006... Colorcoat HPS200 has the flexibility to adapt to unusual designs and the colourful looks to make a stand-out architectural statement The new Ricoh Arena in Coventry is more than a football stadium: it has been built as the flagship...

Regulation compliance needn't be `L' on earth.
May 16, 2006... Anyone who's tried reading the recently revised approved document L (you can download it from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's web site if you're stuck for a little light reading) will recognise that the issues it addresses are hugely...

Canopies draw an audience.
May 16, 2006... Stratford's Theatre Royal is just one satisifed customer, having installed a frameless glass canopy from DR Services. The simply erected systems, strong enough to take foot traffic, have also been fitted in schools and hospitals across the...

Belgian base for Welsh Slate.
May 16, 2006... Keen to expand into the European market, Welsh Slate has opened a showroom in Leuven, Belgium. The `art gallery' style showroom features a full range of natural slate products. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Make a date for roof safety.
May 16, 2006... Covering areas such as asbestos, DDA, COSHH, manual handling and risk management, Safesite's bespoke training courses take place in June and September at Gatwick and Manchester. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Aluminium grille.
May 16, 2006... An aluminium grille system supplied by Neaco is helping use solar heat at an Ecohome development in York. Built with sustainable materials and fitted with glass frontages to harness the sun's energy, Horsman Avenue features Neaco's Techdek...

Let's get physical.
May 16, 2006... Physical damp proof courses help protect refurbished properties from rising damp. According to Dampcoursing md Mark Brickell, 'Chemical and electro systems have proved popular in the past, but only a physical dpc gives a true barrier.' ...

Sandblasted glass at school.
May 16, 2006... Sandblasted glass at a Lancashire school incorporates designs from the children's paintings. Ritec's ClearShield Sandblast Protect has been applied to protect the glass. Daedalian Glass was responsible for the project, which featured a...

Door-set complements Victorian property.
May 16, 2006... At 10 New Hall Street, Macclesfield, a Masterdor door-set complements the Victorian style property while incorporating modern security hardware. Manse Masterdor can make extra wide bespoke doors without compromising strength or security....

Glazed smoke curtain.
May 16, 2006... Partnership between Arkoni and Vetrotech Saint-Gobain has resulted in the Arkoni Smokeline glazed smoke curtain, said to offer advantages over older-style active drop curtain systems. Assessed for up to 60 minutes resistance to smoke, it...

Keeping heat off on holiday.
May 16, 2006... The Slick range of hard-wired smoke and heat alarms from Kidde has been installed at The Point holiday-let property in Anglesey. The fast-fit, rechargeable Slick range is guaranteed for 10 years. Full details are available. Copyright:...

Airport shows off its glazing.
May 16, 2006... Passengers at Guernsey airport are treated to a close-up of glazing expertise thanks to Darby Glass. The company supplied over 3,500sq m of 10mm polished and drilled glass for this canopy. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

What's new in interiors: Zaha serves up a treat.
May 16, 2006... Award-winning architect Zaha Hadid's futuristic Z.Island kitchen has been made entirely from DuPont Corian. Embedded appliances, together with Hadid's characteristic use of fluid, seamless shapes create an open-plan kitchen space that can...

What's new in interiors: Pop in for inspiration.
May 16, 2006... Handily located just a ceramic tile's throw off London's Oxford Street, an impressive materials resource centre for architects and designers has recently opened. Brainchild of tile producer H&R Johnson, the Material Lab at 10 Great...

What's new in interiors: Free-hanging edge system.
May 16, 2006... Designed to complement the Focus suspended acoustic ceiling, Edge is the latest free-hanging edge system from Ecophon. It is designed to provide a finished look to acoustic ceilings where wall-to-wall installation is not possible. ...

What's new in interiors: Easier way to move a wall.
May 16, 2006... Though they offer a practical means of adapting interior spaces, the problem with movable walls has always been actually moving them. Now Dorma has developed Moveo. Some 50% lighter than conventional alternatives, it's easier to move, and...

What's new in interiors: Equinox washroom cubicle.
May 16, 2006... Re-styled as a streamlined modern statement in washroom design, Armitage Venesta's Equinox is tailored to prestige corporate environments. Doors can be specified in three different performance boards in 42 colours, or silk screen printed...

What's new in interiors: Dimensionally stable images on glass.
May 16, 2006... Laminated glass panels that incorporate full colour photographic images are being created with the aid of Sekisui S-Lec SEF interlayer. This EVA interlayer enables the creation of decorative laminated glass products. Used with PET, rice...

STOP PRESS: Light work at mealtime.
May 16, 2006... Vale Hotel golf and spa resort in the Vale of Glamorgan has recently refurbished its AA award winning La Cucina restaurant using luminaires from the Fitzgerald Lighting Group. Lightform, Fitzgerald's London based specialists in bespoke...

STOP PRESS: Two colours added to range.
May 16, 2006... Two further colours have been added to the Adshead Ratcliffe range of natural stone silicone sealant, Arbosil XL1099. Anthracite and terracotta have been developed to coincide with the popularity of these colours, now being used on a wide...

STOP PRESS: Supreme stairway.
May 16, 2006... Each Supreme stairway from Premier Loft Ladders is made to the customer's own specification and features a weatherproof roof hatch. Options include an aluminium stairway with wooden trapdoor and weatherproof roof hatch; the wooden pyroex...

STOP PRESS: Chambers meet building regs.
May 16, 2006... To meet part H of the building regulations for deep non-man entry inspection chambers, Marley Plumbing and Drainage is introducing a new polypropylene range. The range includes two inspection chamber bases, a chamber riser, reduced access...

STOP PRESS: Stylish glass canopy.
May 16, 2006... Specialist metalwork fabricator Arkoni has created a stylish exterior glass canopy from the architect's concepts for a new Sheffield city centre hotel, using a fixing system from SFS intec. The 7,300 x 5,880mm canopy at the Macdonald St....

STOP PRESS: Station glazing.
May 16, 2006... London City Airport railway station has been glazed with systems from English Architectural Glazing. Now open, the station takes passengers directly into the capital via the Docklands Light Railway and forms part of the vital regeneration...

STOP PRESS: Petrol station becomes home.
May 16, 2006... Developer Rosemead Homes has turned a former petrol station and workshop site in Bristol into a four-storey block of 21 flats. In the open plan living and kitchen area, a Passivent Flair ventilation system links the kitchen extractor hood,...

STOP PRESS: New glass fitting.
May 16, 2006... Major benefits are anticipated for the retail sector with the launch of a glass fitting from Geze, suitable for use with toughened or laminated glass. The new fitting ticks all the boxes when it comes to safety, security and aesthetics....

STOP PRESS: Update ops for Parapan.
May 16, 2006... With high gloss in vogue for kitchens in 2006, Update Interiors is one of the growing number of kitchen companies who are using Parapan surfacing material. Durable and easy to maintain, it comes in a wide range of colours: At the...

STOP PRESS: Single channel programmer.
May 16, 2006... Alongside the EP100 single channel and EP200 two channel models, Salus Controls has introduced the EP101 - a volt-free/230v selectable single channel model. The EP101 is a single channel programmer that is able to alternate between being a...

STOP PRESS: Glasgow upgrades to LB.
May 16, 2006... Glasgow-based Thermashield Insulation has completed the final phase of Linstone Housing Association's window refurbishment programme, with the fabrication and installation of over 750 LBSheerframe windows, plus doors at certain properties. ...

STOP PRESS: Wall mounted condenser.
May 16, 2006... Italian boiler manufacturer Sime has launched Dewy 60 BFR, a wall- mounted pre-mixed condensing central heating boiler. Capable of being installed as a stand-alone unit or cascade-managed to produce up to 360kW heat output, it is suitable...

STOP PRESS: Paint Abrasion Test.
May 16, 2006... In recent Paint Research Association tests, Dulux Trade Diamond Glaze has come out top. The Taber Abrasion Test compares the resilience of leading brands of interior floor lacquers and varnishes. Diamond Glaze is suitable for all high...

STOP PRESS: Website compliance aid.
May 16, 2006... Expanded polystyrene insulation (EPS) manufacturer Vencel Resil has launched a new section to its website, designed to aid understanding of AD-L compliance for architects, specifiers, housebuilders and contractors. The new section can be...

STOP PRESS: Contemporary look for food.
May 16, 2006... Striking contemporary table lamps and wall brackets from Chelsom offer ambient illumination in the Players restaurant and bar, Manchester airport Marriott hotel. Designed by Boma, the scheme blends rich reds, rusts and creams with matt...

STOP PRESS: Illuminated exterior.
May 16, 2006... At West London Academy in Ealing, Bega luminaires have been incorporated in a lighting scheme designed by consultant Buro Happold. The company's products illuminate all of the exterior areas to create a dramatic effect, while also lighting...

STOP PRESS: Professional tools catalogue.
May 16, 2006... DeWalt hammers featuring active vibration control (AVC) have been added to the Carl Fdirect professional tools catalogue. AVC counterbalances the forces of internal mechanisms: tri-axial vibration is cut by up to 30%, usage time is at least...

STOP PRESS: Now it's a mirror.
May 16, 2006... Now it's a television! Boardrooms, reception or conferencing suites can be livened up with this mirrored plasma and LCD screen technology from Mirror Media. The dual purpose screens come in a range of sizes from 20in LCD to 55in...

STOP PRESS: Ceilings meet security needs.
May 16, 2006... In new search areas at Bristol airpoprt, Luxalon ceilings have met a number of demanding criteria. The 600sq m ceiling comrprises 600 x 600mm clip-in metal tiles. Noise reduction was critical, and the system was able to meet all the...

STOP PRESS: Old partners work together.
May 16, 2006... Steel frame building supplier Wareing Buildings and Ward Insulated Panels have worked together for almost three decades so it's no surprise that when Wareing relocated to a new site they specified Ward roofing and cladding panels for the new...

STOP PRESS: Hit the wall.
May 16, 2006... Designed to meet the guidelines in BS8300:2001 and document M, Gradus InPro Dual Rail provides wall protection. Dual Rail uses a specialist bracket to combine a handrail and wall guard. The product is designed to suit healthcare...

STOP PRESS: Add a sparkle to dull surfaces.
May 16, 2006... Add high fashion sparkle to dull surfaces with Sibu-Rearo surface decoration from Rearo Laminates. Characterised by tactile surface quality and improved scratch resistance, the products offer quality surfaces with mirror and steel finishes. ...

STOP PRESS: Fire rated door.
May 16, 2006... With the latest range of fire rated steel access panel doors from Timloc Building Products, controls and fittings can be concealed. Each model in the APC-FR range is fire rated for 60 minutes and has a durable hinged access door with either...

FEATURE: Access for all: is it close to becoming a reality?
May 16, 2006... Providing access for all means long term solutions for buildings and not just addressing immediate needs, says John McSweeney, sales and marketing director of Stannah Lifts It's now eighteen months since the flame of urgency generated by...

ACCESS FOR ALL: Wash anywhere.
May 16, 2006... It's not always practical to adapt an existing bathroom space for disabled users. To solve this problem, Manchester-based Autumn UK has launched a modular shower cubicle that can be installed in almost any room, upstairs or downstairs. ...

ACCESS FOR ALL: Sure start allows easy access.
May 16, 2006... Redvales Sure Start centre turned to movemanSKG to find a solution for its disabled access requirements. The company has supplied and installed a Companion Prestige platform lift at the site in Bury, to improve disabled access for...

ACCESS FOR ALL: Bowling on in safety.
May 16, 2006... Handrailing by Kee Klamp is helping Luton Borough Council ensure the safety of visitors to its Memorial Park bowling green. The installation is part of a wider project to upgrade facilities in line with the Disbility Discrimination Act. ...

LIGHTING & ELECTRICS: Melamine to beat superbugs.
May 16, 2006... By moulding most of its switchplates in melamine, Contactum is helping combat the superbug MRSA. Some 24 hours after exposure to MRSA, the company's Aspire and Traditional switch plates can reduce the organism's survival rate to around...

LIGHTING & ELECTRICS: A theatrical flourish.
May 16, 2006... Redevelopment of Lyric Square at the entrance of the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith, has included installation of new lighting equipment, along with paving, a fountain and trees. Aquila Design has supplied bespoke lighting pillars, constructed...

LIGHTING & ELECTRICS: Low energy for retail lighting.
May 16, 2006... Compact design of the CDM-TC Wallwash metal halide luminaire from Ansell Lighting provides a low energy and high light output for accent lighting in retail and display applications. Its white light gives excellent colour rendition, and it...

HEATING & VENTILATING: New signing at club.
May 16, 2006... Two CFW750CE copper-fin water heaters and two LST166 storage tanks have been supplied by Lochinvar to Emirates Stadium, the new home of Arsenal Football Club. The two water heaters, specified to provide hot water to the players' changing area,...

HEATING & VENTILATING: High efficiency boiler rig.
May 16, 2006... A high efficiency boiler rig has been supplied by Keston Boilers for Burleigh Court Nursing Home, completed under a sheltered scheme. The four-boiler rig, comprising three Keston C90s and one C110 unit, replaced the existing boilers, which had...

HEATING & VENTILATING: Energy efficient panel heater.
May 16, 2006... Claiming that electric heating in the home is now more than 17% cheaper than gas central heating for the average householder, according to a recent study, and as much as 46% for landlords and social housing developers, Creda - part of...

HEATING & VENTILATING: Savings under floor.
May 16, 2006... Introduced by Ebeco, EB-Therm 300 is a revolutionary and programmable underfloor heating thermostat designed for optimal energy saving and ease of use. Using `fuzzy technology' for improved control, the thermostat is equipped with an LCD...

HEATING & VENTILATING: Fans with shutter mechanism.
May 16, 2006... Some 400 iCON fans - new from Airflow - have already been installed across a huge range of council properties in kitchen and bathroom refurbishments as part of Redditch Council's on-going Capital Works Programme. iCON's unusual Iris...

OFFICE INTERIORS: Part L - shedding a little light on a thorny issue.
May 16, 2006... Changes to part L of the building regulations seem to have fallen into place rather than been launched into force, says Mike Kormanic, national projects manager for Fitzgerald Lighting We've all heard a lot about part L by now. You know,...

OFFICE INTERIORS: Fixings can be concealed.
May 16, 2006... A concealed fixing option is now available for the Sheer and Hartland plate ranges from Hamilton Litestat. The patented fixing system of the new CFX ranges is said to offer seamless styling with added sophistication. Its innovative design...

OFFICE INTERIORS: Access above ceiling.
May 16, 2006... Discpan, from Panelcraft is described as a neat way of providing access to above ceiling services. The round design of Discpan complements the frequent use of circular light fittings, speakers, smoke detectors and air grilles in ceilings,...

OFFICE INTERIORS: Sliding door and partitioning system.
May 16, 2006... The well proven Junior GP sliding door and partitioning system from Hafele has been upgraded for use in conjunction with laminated glass for added safety in both domestic and contract applications. The Junior GP system is by Swiss...

OFFICE INTERIORS: Offering a sound solution.
May 16, 2006... A new interior wall and ceiling solution has been specially designed by Paroc Panel System UK to combine excellent levels of sound absorption with all the benefits of a high performance composite panel system. The Acoustic panel range is said...

OFFICE INTERIORS: Engineered flooring product.
May 16, 2006... Having invested heavily in recent months, Scotts of Thrapston has unveiled a newly engineered flooring product. The new easi-joist floor system has been developed in association with Wolf Systems and utilises stress graded parallel timber...

OFFICE INTERIORS: Second generation luminaire.
May 16, 2006... Scheduled for launch at Light + Build in Frankfurt, Featuring an outstanding flatscreen appearance, Vaero is the second generation of the Aero waveguide luminaire by Zumbotel Lighting. Designed by Harmut S. Engel, the luminaire is defined...

OFFICE INTERIORS: Light relief for tenants.
May 16, 2006... SPECS3 fully addressable digital lighting controls from Simmtronic were chosen for Land Securities' impressive 550,000 sq ft office development, built by Sir Robert McAlpine at Cardinal Place in London. The lighting control system for the full...

OFFICE INTERIORS: Perfect for sharing.
May 16, 2006... The innovative new Fusion Commercial range from Richard Burbidge is said to offer architects, builders and specifiers a contemporary, versatile and easy-to-install balustrading system for communal stairwells Based on the company's...

OFFICE INTERIORS: Making the most of space.
May 16, 2006... Now available from PC Henderson is Husky - part of the comprehensive range of sliding and folding door hardware especially designed for domestic or light commercial use. Henderson sliding systems allow homes, shops, offices or restaurants...

OFFICE INTERIORS: Entrance matting.
May 16, 2006... In a departure from its well known aluminium and stainless steel floor and wall access hatches, Howe Green has developed a wide and unique range of entrance matting systems to meet the needs of architects, interior designers and end clients....

FLOORING: Banking on Burlington.
May 16, 2006... A number of natural stone products from the UK's leading producer, Cumbria-based Burlington, have been specified by architects, Red Box Design Group, for the Northern Rock head office in Newcastle. Constructed over a number of phases, and...

FLOORING: Timber look for club floors.
May 16, 2006... Timber effect vinyl tiles from the Polyflor Expona collection have hitthe floor at Luton night spots Deja Vu and Funck. Aimed at the heavy commercial, leisure, retail and healthcare sectors, Expona offers a choice of 30 timber and 30 stone...

FLOORING: Carpet tile will hide the dirt.
May 16, 2006... Fusion-bonded Pallette 2000 carpet tiles now offer new colours and a yarn that hides dirt more effectively, says Interface. Its 100% Antron nylon construction gives excellent appearance retention and high abrasion resistance, while high...

FLOORING: Stylish collection of porcelain tiles.
May 16, 2006... Offering fantastic variety and outstanding design, Rocersa Ceramica, a member of the Spanish Ceramic Tile Manufacturers' Association, has launched Block, a stylish collection of porcelain tiles. Gathering inspiration from contemporary...

FLOORING: Chilling out with Widows.
May 16, 2006... Bermuda maple wood effect vinyl flooring from Marley Floors' Premier collection has been specified for a chill out area at Scottish Widows' Edinburgh offices. Helping create a welcoming, tranquil environment, the flooring design also...

FLOORING: Extended colour palette.
May 16, 2006... Popular Square Mile carpet tile is now available in an extended colour palette, reports Gradus Carpets. Seven colours have been added, giving a total of 27 colour choices in a subtle speckled design effect. Subtle naturals of mink,...

FLOORING: Stripes make statements.
May 16, 2006... The product portfolio from Armstrong Floor Products has been extended with the introduction of two innovative striped carpet tile designs, along with a luxurious woven broadloom carpet. The new additions include Desso Madison loop pile...

FLOORING: Laminated flooring system.
May 16, 2006... All the beauty of a real wood floor can be achieved with the sought- after durability, longevity and ease of installation that comes with a laminate floor, with the launch of Kronotex, the first laminated flooring system from Finnforest. ...

FLOORING: High quality hardwood flooring.
May 16, 2006... High quality Bausen hardwood flooring from James Latham was used recently in the construction of a new retail shop in Leeds. Bausen's popularity continues to grow due to the different ranges of contemporary oil-finished oak. Other flooring...

FLOORING: Natural southern beauty.
May 16, 2006... Playing its part in delivering the clean and sophisticated architecture that is Barton Skyway I and II, part of a prestigious and phased office development for Prentiss Properties in Austin, Texas, Broughton Moor natural stone from Burlington....

FLOORING: Western Red Cedar cladding.
May 16, 2006... Western Red Cedar cladding material is the subject of a new colour brochure from Arnold Laver Timber World. The tri-fold brochure, features all profiles of the popular softwood cladding, found on many of the country's modern architectural...

REFURBISHMENT: Famous spa is refreshed.
May 16, 2006... As part of a major restoration of the Grade II listed Spa in Scarborough, Haddonstone was commissioned to replace stone badly eroded by decades of exposure to saltwater and wind off the North Sea. The company has renovated the intricately...

REFURBISHMENT: Automatic door systems.
May 16, 2006... Aiming to ensure all students and staff have complete access throughout the campus, Worcester University contracted Tormax to upgrade over 30 key entrances and exits to automatic door systems. The University now benefits from single and...

REFURBISHMENT: Windows upgrade.
May 16, 2006... SightLine 70 Reversible windows from Spectus have been used to upgrade two blocks of flats in Macclesfield, Cheshire. Over 200 windows have been fitted to enclose the flat's balcony areas. This has provided additional space for the...

REFURBISHMENT: Back in the swim of things in Bury St Edmunds.
May 16, 2006... A significant role has been played by Ardex in the refurbishment of the Bury St Edmunds Leisure Centre. Following fire damage in 2004, a comprehensive re-development of the leisure centre has been undertaken, incorporating a new...

REFURBISHMENT: Cost effective heating system.
May 16, 2006... During the refurbishment of Leicester's Grade II listed former Odeon Cinema, which is now the Athena Banqueting Centre, the commercial heating team from Buderus were called in to offer technical advice on replacing the original wet system...

REFURBISHMENT: New signing for Everton.
May 16, 2006... Fans of Everton Football Club are not kept waiting around for action in the club shop following the installation of the eQ electronic call forward system from Tensator , which is designed to reduce waiting times. Tensator designed an eQ...

REFURBISHMENT: Refurbishment of Stretford Mall.
May 16, 2006... Refurbishment of Stretford Mall (formerly the Stretford Arndale) , near Manchester City Centre. has involved structural and aesthetic improvements to the mall's multi-storey car park. The Traffideck waterproofing and surfacing system from...

REFURBISHMENT: Glazing project completed.
May 16, 2006... An #80,000 glazing project has recently been completed by Solaglas for as part of a large refurbishment and improvement programme to the grade II listed Sheffield City Hall. The company's challenge was to fabricate the two large glazed...

REFURBISHMENT: Art Deco apartment building restored.
May 16, 2006... The prominent 1930's Art Deco concrete apartment building Lichfield Court, near Richmond station, has been restored to its original significance Contractors Folcrete Restoration Services has fully restored and waterproofed all 6,000m2 of...